RCMP remove radio tower from sacred Dene site near Nahanni Butte

The RCMP has removed a radio tower from a sacred Dene mountain top site near Nahanni Butte, N.W.T.

The tower and its concrete base were removed last month, but the chief who raised the issue last spring says restoration of the site is not complete.

• 'The mountain can't breathe': RCMP radio tower on sacred Nahanni Butte site could be removed

Known as the Sacred Vent Hole of Ttheng, the site is part of the Dene legend of the Great Spirit saving the Dene from the scourge of giant beavers that once roamed the region. The legend, handed down through many generations, says the Great Spirit used his walking stick to poke a hole in the top of the mountain to scare the beavers out. He then chased them down to the Mackenzie River, shot three and cooked them.

"The fat from the beavers are still smoldering to this day!He left the hides on the mountain for all to see at a place called Bear Rock, near Tulita," NahanniButte Chief PeterMarcellaissaid in an emailto CBC.

"We would like to restore the mountainto its original state as this is where our legend began."

Years ago, the RCMP covered the hole to use as a base for a radio tower, one of several installed on the mountain by government agencies without the permission of the Dene.

At a meeting of Dehcho leaders last May in Colville Lake, Marcellais said that with the concrete base of the towers plugging the vent, the mountain can'tbreathe.

Last week, the RCMP took Nahanni Butte elder Leon Konisenta and band manager Mark Pocklington to the site to inspect the work.

In his report on the inspection, Pocklington said they were generally happy with the RCMP's work, but said a lot of work still has to be done before the sacred site is fully restored.

Some vent holes are still covered with bases for wire cables; acabinthe territorial government builtremains on the site; and there's concrete rubble and two other antennas that still need to be removed.

Marcellais said none of the agenciesconsulted with his people years ago before installing thebuilding and equipment on the mountain. He says the territorial government cabinhasn't been used in years.

"What's the use of having a cabin there?" he said. "We're going to have to straighten it out with ENR [the Department of Environment and Natural Resources]."

Marcellaissays he advised the territorial government of the remaining work in an email this week. He proposed sending a smallhelicopter-supported crew of local workers to finish the job of clearing the hole of loose rock and removing trash that's spread around the mountain top by the wind.